Fort Edward woman charged with welfare fraud

FORT EDWARD -- Laura Mitchell, 37, of Tory Place in Fort Edward, is accused of filing two applications for public assistance with the Washington County Department of Social Services in which she falsely stated she was not receiving assistance from any other county in New York state when she was in fact receiving benefits from a county near New York City, according to the Washington County Sheriff's Office.

Mitchell is also accused of not reporting her actual income while receiving Washington County benefits and of lying on a written statement about her work.

She was charged Tuesday with first-degree offering a false instrument for filing and fourth-degree welfare fraud, both class-E felonies.

By not reporting her actual income, Mitchell received more than $2,000 in benefits she was not entitled to under New York state law.

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She was arrested and issued a ticket to appear before the Town of Fort Edward Court May 31. The case will be forwarded to the Washington County District Attorney's Office for possible grand jury action and potential additional charges.